Persistent Systems Reports Strong Q3 FY26 Results with 17.3% Revenue Growth and AI-Driven Margin Expansion
Persistent Systems reported strong Q3 FY26 results with revenue of $422.5 million, achieving 17.3% year-on-year growth and marking the 23rd consecutive quarter of revenue expansion. Despite one-time labor code impacts, the company demonstrated margin resilience through AI platform monetization, achieving 150 basis points improvement from tool-driven pricing models. The Board declared an interim dividend of ₹22 per share, reflecting commitment to shareholder returns while maintaining growth trajectory toward long-term revenue aspirations.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Persistent Systems delivered robust financial performance in Q3 FY26 ended December 31, 2025, showcasing strong revenue growth and successful AI platform monetization during its earnings call held on January 20, 2026.
Financial Performance Highlights
The company achieved significant growth across key metrics, with revenue reaching $422.5 million for the quarter. This performance reflects the company's consistent execution and market positioning.
| Metric | Q3 FY26 | Growth (YoY) | Growth (QoQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (USD) | $422.5 million | 17.3% | 4.0% |
| Revenue (INR) | ₹37,782.1 million | 23.4% | 5.5% |
| EBIT Margin | 14.4% | -50 bps | -190 bps |
| PAT Margin | 11.6% | - | -68 bps |
| EPS | ₹28.20 | 16% | - |
The company maintained its impressive growth trajectory, marking the 23rd consecutive quarter of revenue growth with trailing twelve-month revenue standing at $1.6 billion.
Margin Dynamics and AI Platform Impact
Despite facing headwinds from wage hikes and new labor code provisions, Persistent Systems demonstrated resilience through strategic AI platform monetization. The quarter saw a one-time impact of 230 basis points on EBIT margin due to increased provisioning for gratuity and leave encashment under India's New Labour Code.
However, the company achieved a remarkable 150 basis points margin improvement through AI platform and tool-driven pricing models. Excluding the one-time labor code impact, EBIT margin would have been 16.7%, representing a 40 basis point improvement quarter-on-quarter.
| Margin Impact Factors | Basis Points |
|---|---|
| AI Platform Pricing | +150 bps |
| Wage Hike Impact | -180 bps |
| New Labour Code | -230 bps |
| Currency Tailwind | +30 bps |
| Operational Efficiency | +40 bps |
Strong Order Book and Client Growth
The company's order book performance remained robust with Total Contract Value reaching $674.5 million, including $369.1 million from new bookings. Annual Contract Value stood at $501.9 million, with new bookings contributing $255.8 million.
Client relationships continued strengthening across all revenue buckets:
- Top 5 customers grew by 25.6% year-on-year
- Top 10 customers expanded by 28.3%
- Top 20 customers increased by 26.3%
- Customers with $75 million+ annual revenue grew from 3 to 4
- Customers with $5 million+ revenue increased significantly from 47 to 61
Geographic and Vertical Performance
The company demonstrated broad-based growth across geographies and industry verticals. North America revenue grew 18.6% year-on-year, while Europe expanded by 22.0%. The BFSI vertical led growth with 29.3% expansion, followed by Software Hi-Tech and Emerging Industries at 14.7%.
AI Innovation and Platform Development
Persistent Systems showcased significant progress in AI implementation both internally and for clients. The company's AssistX platform now includes multiple AI agents across various business functions, with measurable productivity improvements. Notable achievements include PiAssist resolving 83% of HR queries autonomously and ITAssist reducing incident resolution time from 3 hours to under 30 minutes.
Dividend Declaration and Capital Allocation
The Board of Directors declared an interim dividend of ₹22 per share on face value of ₹5 per share, representing an increase from the previous year's ₹20 per share. This demonstrates the company's commitment to maintaining consistent dividend payout ratios while supporting growth through strategic investments.
Outlook and Strategic Direction
Management expressed confidence in maintaining growth momentum while progressing toward long-term aspirations of $2 billion revenue by March 2027 and $5 billion by March 2031. The company's focus on AI-driven platform development and customer-centric solutions positions it well for sustained growth in the evolving technology services landscape.
Historical Stock Returns for Persistent Systems
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +0.99% | -2.92% | -4.21% | +10.89% | -1.14% | +707.80% |


































